Gavin Hart did not waste time by patting himself on the back for making it through the rigorous academia that is Thomas Jefferson High School.

Instead, the senior class president spent the better part of his commencement address highlighting the accomplishments of his classmates and student clubs the past few years.

He talked about the musical wins by the arts department, WPIAL titles won by the football and cheerleading teams, as well as a group of students who raised $11,000 for a member of the community who lost the ability to talk.

Hart also mentioned several student standouts who earned individual awards in athletics and arts as well as unique opportunities.

“With all this evidence present, what does it mean?” Hart asked like a lawyer trying to win a case. “The answer is quite simple. It proves that we are all natural-born leaders. From early on in our high school careers all the way to our graduation, we have always taken charge. Furthermore, we have led with passion and dedication.”

Those two values were embedded in all speeches given June 5.

Other senior speakers were Caitlin Joyce and James Hausman IV. Both are AP scholars and National Honor Society members.

Joyce said it is important for people to be their authentic selves and celebrate successes. She noted accomplishments often do not come without struggle.

“None of this is luck or chance,” Joyce said. “It is truly the snowball effect of discipline, diligence and strong character. … Do not let that fire burnout. Each of you has already proven your impressive capabilities. So, do not let the mere change of environment stop you from leaving a great impact on the world.”

Hausman talked about his love of chess and no matter how many times he lost, he would continue to play and learned.

It took him more than three years to earn a victory over his father. The patriarch rewarded the young champion with a new chess set.

Hausman likened that perseverance to what he and his classmates showed throughout their time at Thomas Jefferson.

The lesson being progress comes with time, diligence and thoughtful decisions.

Graduation caps became little umbrellas for the 222 Thomas Jefferson High School seniors at graduation on June 5.

Administrators rolled the dice when it came to providing a traditional outdoor commencement at the high school football stadium despite multiple weather reports calling for heavy rains.

It turned out to be a good call as about 1,000 people took to the stands to watch their sons, daughters, sisters, brothers and cousins receive their diplomas.

“They deserve it,” said high school principal Pete Murphy. “We wanted to make sure every kid had their family (and) everyone that supported them along the way to be here. If we move indoors we just don’t have the space. We gambled a little bit, but it paid off for us. We’re just happy that everyone could be here this evening.

Murphy also led attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance early in the program.

More than 80% of the graduates are expected to attend a college or university while others with enter the workforce and trade schools.

The high school band, under the direction of conductor James Mirabella, played “Pomp and Circumstance” as seniors made their way onto the field. It also performed “Red Rock Mountain.”

The school’s a cappella choir and senior choir, under the direction of Julia Lucci, performed the national anthem

The ceremony was livestreamed. A link to the video is available on the district’s website, wjhsd.net.

Graduation list

Kenneth Olajuwon Afolabi

Morgan M. Alisesky

Kailee Elizabeth Allenbaugh

Hannah K. Alonso

Ryann Parker Anderson

Braeden Michael Artman

Sydney Madison Bagnell

Savannah Baker

Brandon Xavier Barchfeld

Natalie Rose Barkell

Brycen W. Bartlett

Avery James Bates

Marie Ahmir Beatty

Ayrianna Linnea Binotto

Chloe Marie Blank

Antonella Rose Blosl

Natalie Marie Borneman

Damian J. Bosco

Marina I. Branchen

Troy E. Brown

Riley Robert Bustos

Andrew Buzard

Taveon James Cameron

Tomi Amelia Campano

Franco S. Candemil

Anthony James Cardillo

Nadia Rosina Casamassa

Riley Elizabeth Casciotti

Alison E. Chalovich

Margaret Suzanne Chiprich

Benjamin Connor Cleary

Genevieve Michele Cody

Daniel John Conner

Celena N. Cooke

Mia Elizabeth Costa

Brendan Thomas Coulson

Callie Nola Dailey

Shannon E. Danielson

Bradley Deery

Olivia K. Della Lucia

Olivia Rose DeMaio

Cendall Denison-Fisher

Bryan Richard Dettlinger

Cayden Kingsley Diethorn

Olivia Lee Dirk

Brighid Noel Dorrian

Natalie J. Driscoll

Amelia Duenkel

Aiden Michael Dushack

John J. Dvorchak

Landon Dean Dziaminski

Lukeman Ahmad El-Hajj

Madelyn B. Ellis

Austin Tyler Ely

Karlie Rae Enick

Samuel E. Esper

Aidan Bradley Estermyer

Myla Rose Evans

Rachel Paige Failoni

Nathan R. Farison

Sara Kaylee Fazio

Kendal Jillian Fernandes

Austin James Ferrington

Brennan J. Fingal

Ella Lorraine Frantz

Ashlynn Nicole Fry

Tyler W. Fusco

Adam James Galluppi

Molly Rose Gasperin

Yianni Spiros Giannoutsos

Melina Mary Gillot

Annmarie Lucia Graham

Alayna S. Grese

Edward James Griffiths

Josie Lynn Griffiths

Paul Anthony Guenther

Pramosh Gurung

Samara Nicole Guzman

Sidney Ann Handshue

Gavin B. Hart

James Lewis Hausman IV

Ava Rose Hays

Lucyanna Marie Heemstra

Lucas David Hoffman

Connor S. Horgan

Olivia Alexandra Horgan

Hunter Gregory Houk

Lily Anne Hurst

Gavin Michael Ignaczak

Abagail Ingold

Luke E. Janosko

Elizabeth Jane Janusek

Abigail Ann Jesensky

Cassius Jones

Caitlin Ciara Joyce

Nikita Kafley

Kooper James Kamberis

Bryce Joseph Kameg

Kelsey Marie Kanotz

Sylvia K. Kashak

Noah Ryan Kaszer

Ashlee Nicole Kazimer

Isabella Marie Kear

Dipsan Khadka

Christina Khanal

Jayden Khumoyo Khulila

Carter Kalman Kirsch

Brendan Joseph Knapton

Haley Marie Korhnak

Lillian Frances Korhnak

Luke David Kosko

Jordan Calvin Krayvo

Nora Lynn Kudis

Rachel Elizabeth Laing

Cassidy Rae LaMarca

Tyler John Lautner

Reese Marie Lawry

Dylan Charles Legeza

Marissa Ann Leshnock

Tyler Richard Lesko

Preston James Levdansky

Alyssa F. Linn

Jackson Tobias Lubash

Ryan Michael Lucas

Aidan Macneil

Amanda Lynn Magill

Alec Richard Mahathey

Liam John Mahoney

Arpita Maji

Aislin Christine Majoris

Josephine E. Manculich

Bode Ward Marlow

Matthew Edward Martinis

Brooke Hailey McGrew

Anthony M. McCarty

Jesse Hale Mellor Jr.

Brayden Alston Miller

Gavin James Miller

Trent David Miller

Jordan Moore

Kamryn Allison Mull

Kritika Neupane

Gia L. Nolder

Jake Nolder

Peyton Olivia Oeler

Brendon Ray Pape

Kathryn Jeanette Patterson

Logan Michael Pellegrini

Dakota Rachelle Perris

Mary Elizabeth Pesanka

Addison Nicole Phillips

Luke R. Pokorny

Joshua F. Pollock

Ronald Joseph Porupsky Jr.

Manju Pradhan

Sujan Pradhan

Mason Thor Pranevich

Emma Lynn Pritchard

Jay A. Pronobis

Alexa Marie Ptaszkiewicz

Munachi Pulliam

Talan Xavier Purcupile

Dane Robert Pust

Robert John Quinlan

Aaron Joseph Reed

Ryan James Regna

Josiah Thomas Reilly

Diego Reyes-Rodriguez

Malika Rosie Riley-Rivera

Bailey Ann Ringloff

Dylan Christopher Roberts

Natalie Evelyn Rowland

Alyssa Lee Rozeck

Erik Alexander Rupert Jr.

Reagan Magdalene Sanderson

Reha Sanjel

Brendon Matthew Sarber

Riley Bryan Sattler

Logan Andrew Schaffer

Justin Louis Schmidt

Andrew Michael Sharp

Maddox Cunningham Shaw

Jacob Dominic Shoemaker

Sydney Marie Siler

Cameron Wesley Skalos

Kolten Anthony Smith

Natalie M. Smith

Tristan Smith

Ayomide Iyinoluwa Solotan

Brian Thomas Spencer

Natalee E. Steiner

Nadia Christine Stella

Olivia Claire Stock

Natalie Elizabeth Taimuty

Hrithika Tamang

Alissa Jean Tarpey

Ian W. Taylor

Campbell Joseph Thomas

Jeremy Lane Thompson

Eliana Jean Toma

Jasmyne Monet Trainer

Adalyn M. Trbovich

Cole William Trieste

Shepherd A. Turk

Daniel Jay Venditti

Cara Jean Vereb

Kylie Frances Vereb

Olivia Aaron Virgin

Jaiden Michael Wadlow

Michael Washowich

Katie Elizabeth Weir

Makenna Nicole Weiss

Michaela Wetzel

Brayden Daniel White

Jackson Robert Williams

Derick Anthony Wise

Emily Marie Withers

Brianna Lynn Wojnar

Jacob Andrew Worthington

Aziyah Nevaeh Wright

Andrew C. Yeschenko

Brianna Nicole Zoller

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